Best Garage Sale on the Block

My sister and I are border-line garage sale junkies. We like going to garage sales (well, the good one's) but even more, we love having them. Whether you need extra money, or just want to simplify, there is something truly rewarding about a great sale. A garage sale not only makes you money, but it also gets you moving (burning calories), simplifies your home, results in a clean garage and can be a great way to connect with your neighbors (and family.) Honestly, some of the best memories I have with my sister are times we spent sitting in front of a garage with balloons in the yard and kids on the corner.

I recently moved and I made over $2000 at my garage sale on little things alone. Practical items in excess, decorations, small tools, sporting goods and holiday riff-raff can yield 100's! Experience has taught that having a great garage sale comes down to 5 key components. Heed these, and your days of hoping for a measly $100 are over!

Wednesday AND Saturday (not either/or)

First, the timing of your sale is basic, yet crucial. Have your sale on a Wednesday and don't bargain (on Wednesday.) Use these words, "You know, I think I am going to hold out on the price because I am having the sale again Saturday." And have the sale again on Saturday. That's right, twice (same sale.) On Saturday, have the "Everything must go" mentality. Barter your butt off! This 2-day approach also allows you to reorganize the goods, and add to the goods Wednesday through Saturday - always a plus.

Merchandising Matters

Second, don't underestimate merchandising. Pretend you work for The Gap! Make the garage shop-able. Group all of your "like items." Use retail techniques like signage: "3 for $1.00." And, place your big items out front, so customers think your sale really has the "goods" when driving by. The "drive-by" or potential customer can be enticed in many ways.

Grab the "drive-by" by having a huge box out front marked FREE. In it, put McDonald's happy-meal toys, stuffed animals you think no one would want, stained clothing....things you really believe you couldn't give away. But as the old saying goes, "Someone's trash is another persons treasure." It's true. The word "free" makes people get out of their car (even if they weren't going to stop.) And surprisingly, the "free" box is always empty at the end of the sale. Your garbage men will thank you (less trash!) And on the free note: stick to Quarter increments. Don't fiddle with nickels and dimes. If it isn't worth a quarter, throw it in the free box.

Another "drive-by" stopper is to make sure you showcase a variety of goods out front. Consider that your audience is random people. Therefore, you need random appeal. Place a big toy (this screams "kids"), a bicycle or golf club (athletics), a shovel/rake (home-owners) etc. If you appeal to the masses the "drive-by" will park and turnout will improve. (And don't forget to park your own vehicle down the street to make parking easy. Yes, move your own car. The "drive by" needs space.)

Create a Shopping Experience

In the same vein as merchandising, the third tool of success is the shopping experience. My neighbors always make fun of me for going to the "n"th degree for a sale, but when I have one, they all come out! It really is the little things that make a difference. All of these I have learned by going to bad garage sales.

A commonly made mistake is assuming the smell of your garage doesn't matter. A scented candle goes a long way in a musty garage that smells like a pot-por-i of lawn clippings, sawdust and motor oil. Light a couple of strong scented candles and place them about (where they won't pose a fire hazard.)

Another mistake garage sale hosts make is accepting silence. Face it, it can just be uncomfortable and eerie to be in someone else's quiet garage. So, drag a clock radio or boom box to the garage and plug it in. It will take one second and the power of music is like magic. It makes people feel warmer, keeps them shopping longer and generates happy customers humming along. Two quick reminders about music: Don't let your teenage son pick the station and skip talk radio. The goal is easy music not thrashing hard rock or news that reminds everyone we are in a depression.

Make it a Family Affair

I would be betraying myself, as a mother, if I did not mention the benefits of getting the whole family involved. This excludes my husband who cringes at the sentence, "I think I am going to have a garage sale." I am talking about the kids. Kids love projects.

First, enlist them to clean up their room and clean out their toys. Do not position it as "We are selling your toys." In fact, avoid that at all costs. Position it as helping people that need to save money, or may not have toys like you do. Encourage them to put toys they don't like or don't play with in a pile. Keep it simple.

Another fantastic task for kids to keep them busy during the sale (and not adding to the mayhem) is to set them up to sell. Prepare a lemonade stand on the driveway or consider making brownies or Rice Crispy treats the night before. Put the treats in baggies, put the baggies in a basket and get out the card table. Have the kids make their own sign, too. Even penny-pinching customers are a sucker for kids who are making an effort. I have had customers who won't spend a dime in my garage, but they'll buy a brownie in a hot second. It raises the kids esteem and teaches them a great lesson in sales.

Most of all, let the kids keep the money they earn, or tell them "If you make $x.xx, I will take you all to a movie tonight and you can pay!" Kids love family time, and honestly, a movie that they (not you) pay for is a win-win. You save, you're all entertained, and the kids beam with pride taking the family for a night out. (And yes, let go of the fact that the lemonade, cups and sugar cost you $5, and the popcorn will cost you $10. You just had a garage sale and made more money than expected. Your family is worth it!)

Harness the Power of Advertising

Lastly, an active garage sale depends on signage/location. Never skimp on the signs. Put those suckers on every corner that could possibly lead to the house within a mile of your door (and include your house number.) Always use brightly colored streamers or balloons (even if it is just one) to draw attention to each sign. It seems excessive, but if you are going to the trouble to make signs and put them all over town, you want people to see them.

Signage is work. Allow yourself a whole night just to make signs in your garage sale prep. Be sure to use words like "huge" and "awesome" on your sign. Describe the sale, don't just put "Garage Sale." It's boring. Grab attention by describing your sale. I don't want to go to just any garage sale, I want to go to an awesome one! This is advertising and it works - even in a garage.

If you are in a low traffic area, utilize free engines on the web to get the word out. Putting an ad on Craigslist, or on your local newspapers website (many of them have a garage sale tab) will increase traffic. The best sales are the busy sales. An advertisement, even in free places, will increase your odds of good traffic.

Stay the Course

On a final note (and this takes serious will-power), whatever doesn't sell, donate. It is hard not to get sentimental with things that don't sell, asking yourself, "Why would someone NOT want this?" Remind yourself that you didn't even want it (that is why it is in the garage.) Then, put it in a trash bag and take it to Goodwill. This way, your garage sale earnings probably just doubled with your tax write-off. Keep your eye on the prize: simplifying and earning. You will make money off of your donation. Even if it is not immediate, come tax time, you will be glad. So, think long-term and resist the urge to bring whatever it is back into the house.

In review, easy to implement ideas can and will take you from hoping for a $100 sale to expecting hundreds (plural.) Use both Wednesday and Saturday to your advantage in the barter. Remember, retail tactics aren't just for the mall. Focusing on merchandising and "shopping experience" will increase revenue. Making your sale a family affair will turn excited kids who are making you crazy into profit earning assets on a mission. And, never go to all this effort then under-expose your sale. Use signs and free websites to raise awareness...so you can take your garage sale to the bank!